2011 New York City Open Spectator Information

**The NYC Open has been rescheduled for this coming labor day weekend. Also, the registration will be reopened again until 12pm, Friday.**

Benefiting the American Youth Table Tennis Organization

Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd and 4th

Jacob Javits Convention Center

Enhanced prize money has attracted some of the best Table Tennis players in North America to New York City this weekend. While not one of the richer or more eye-popping numbers the sports world has ever seen, the $4,000 that goes to the Open Singles champ here has brought top contenders from coast to coast and lured the strongest male players from Canada to compete for the money.

It’s a rare opportunity for the public as well to see this Olympic sport ‘in the flesh’ with World-ranked players in serious competition. There is no spectator admission fee being charged. So what is the incentive for the organizers to offer prize money to all of the top 16 finishers? “It’s the honey that brings out all the talented athletes” according to Ben Nisbet, Executive Director of the American Youth Table Tennis Organization, a non-profit dedicated to after school table tennis instruction and mentoring to hundreds of New York City School Children each year.

This is the third year of operation for the New York City Open, and by far the most visible, high-profile location the tournament has used. The prize money is nearly 300% larger than ever offered before, $16,000 in total. Table Tennis is surging in popularity by all measures, including survey results from the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association.

“That’s as it should be!” according to Nisbet. “This sport is a life sport that is richly rewarding to people who participate. They stay fit, live longer, have a competitive outlet and remain socially engaged. Plus. it’s just a really cool sport. The risk of injury is minimal and you don’t have to be a physical giant to play it and play it well. We are convinced that introducing this sport to New York City’s youth and getting them involved with organized table tennis will give them a leg up on life.”

Among the players contending for the Championship are three members of the Canadian National Team, a former Chinese Provincial Champion, four present or former members of the US Men’s Team and a Paralympic Gold Medallist. Play is expected to be spirited and brisk as the crowded field fights to finish ‘in the money’.

The public is welcome to attend the tournament as spectators at no charge. The best players will be in play on Sunday, with Open Singles Quarterfinals beginning at 1PM and the tournament’s Championship Match scheduled for 4PM. No flash photography is allowed.